Engineered cigarette

ABSTRACT

An improved cigarette is provided in which the tobacco column is modified by incorporating a tobacco substitute such as shredded carbon filled paper with the tobacco in increasing amounts toward the butt end of the cigarette. The shredded carbon filled paper may be mixed with the tobacco in preselected zones or segments along the length of the cigarette with the zones closest to the mouthpiece containing increasing amounts or the cigarette may be constructed such that the shredded carbon filled paper is blended with the tobacco in gradually increasing amounts toward the mouthpiece along the whole length of the tobacco column. Cigarettes made according to this invention display a more level yield of constituents in the smoke from tip end to butt end when measured on a puff by puff basis during smoking while also reducing the overall yield of constituents in the smoke from the entire cigarette.

Write States Patent Owens, Jr, et a1.

[ ENGWEERED CIGARETTE [75] Inventors: William F. Owens, Jr., Pisgah Forest; Stuart W. McCarty, Brevard, both of NC.

[7 3] Assignee: Olin Corporation, Pisgah Forest,

[22] Filed: Sept. 26, 1973 21 Appl. No.: 401,038

[52] 1.1.8. Cl. 131/2 [51] lint. Cl. A2413 15/00 [58] Field of Search 131/2, 8 A, 8 R, 9, l0, 131/4 R, 4 A, 7 R, 8 R

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,759,267 9/1973 Thornton 131/8 R FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,162,314 8/1969 United Kingdom 131/2 1,113,979 5/1968 United Kingdom 131/2 [45] Sept. 2, 1975 Primary Examiner-Robert W. Michell Assistant Examiner-Vincent Millin Attorney, Agent, or FirmRobert W. Habel [57] ABSTRACT An improved cigarette is provided in which the tov bacco column is modified by incorporating a tobacco substitute such as shredded carbon filled paper with the tobacco in increasing amounts toward the butt end of the cigarette. The shredded carbon filled paper may ,be mixed with the tobacco in preselected zones or segments along the length of the cigarette with the zones closest to the mouthpiece: containing increasing amounts or the cigarette may be constructed such that the shredded carbon filled paper is blended with the tobacco in gradually increasing amounts toward the mouthpiece along the whole length of the tobacco column. Cigarettes made according to this invention display a more level yield of constituents in the smoke from tip end to butt end when measured on a puff by puff basis during smoking while also reducing the overall yield of constituents in the smoke from the entire cigarette.

4 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures PATENTEU 35? 21975 ENGINEERED CIGARETTE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to cigarettes and more particularly to cigarettes engineered to deliver a uniform level of smoke constituents in each puff. It is well known that as a conventional cigarette is progressively smoked, the constituents in the smoke substantially increase from tip end to butt end. Thus, if the delivery of smoke constituents are measured on the basis of total particulate matter (TPM), it is found that the TPM yield is significantly greater during the final stages or puffs of smoke from a cigarette than it is in the initial stages.

Previous attempts at reducing the constituent yield in the later puffs from a cigarette have been confined to modifying the cigarette wrapper to permit progressively increasing amounts of air to dilute the smoke as the cigarette is consumed. Various techniques used to accomplish this are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,667,479, 3,699,972 and 3,699,973. While such developments have succeeded to a certain extent in leveling out the constituent yield in the smoke, they have not been commercially successful, possibly because they alter the appearance of the cigarette and for some smokers, unfavorably effect the taste.

Certain tobacco substitutes have been formulated which when used alone or in blends with tobacco in cigarettes are intended to reduce the overall delivery of some constituents in the smoke from such cigarettes. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,608,560 discloses a tobacco substitute of oxidized cellulose material and colloidal size carbon particles. Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 3,638,660 discloses a tobacco substitute comprising a combination of at least 90% alpha cellulose fibrous wood pulp with a combination modifier such as magnesium, sodium or potassium sulfate, chloride or carbonate. However, neither of these patents recognizes or is concerned with the problem of providing uniform smoke constituent delivery throughout the cigarette.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved cigarette in which the constituent delivery in the smoke is more uniform throughout burning of the cigarette while at the same time the overall constituent delivery is significantly reduced.

It is another object of this invention to provide a cigarette employing a modified tobacco column that produces a uniform delivery of smoke constituents throughout the smoking thereof.

Still another object is to provide a cigarette having reduced delivery of smoke constituents by employing a modified tobacco column containing in combination tobacco and a tobacco substitute.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a generally uniform delivery of smoke constituents throughout the length of a cigarette by incorporating progressively increasing amounts of shredded carbon filled paper in the tobacco column toward the month end of the cigarette which may be accomplished by making the cigarette from a series of segments each containing a different ratio of shredded carbon filled paper to tobacco, with those containing the highest ratio disposed towards the mouth end of the cigarette.

Surprisingly, we have found that the foregoing objects can be achieved with a novel engineered cigarette,

which may or may not be equipped with a filter, said cigarette comprising a tobacco column surrounded by a conventional wrapper of cigarette paper, the tobacco column comprising a blend of tobacco and a tobacco substitute such as shredded carbon filled paper with said shredded carbon filled paper incorporated with the tobacco in progressively increasing amounts toward the mouthpiece end of the cigarette.

The cigarette may be formed from individual segments, each wrapped in cigarette paper and each containing different amounts of shredded carbon filled paper mixed with the tobacco. The segments are then arranged in a column with those containing progressively higher percentages of carbon filled paper placed towards the mouth end of the cigarette and those containing little or no carbon filled paper disposed towards the other end of the cigarette. The whole column of individual segments is then overwrapped with conventional cigarette paper to form the composite cigarette. Alternately, the entire tobacco column in the cigarette may comprise a non-uniform blend of tobacco and shredded carbon filled paper such that progressively increased amounts of the carbon filled paper are used towards the mouthpiece end of the cigarette.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic sectional view of a cigarette according to this invention made up of a series of short segments.

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 but showing a cigarette made according to another embodiment of this invention.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 shows a cigarette generally designated 10 having a mouthpiece 11 which may also include a filter element or simply comprise a hollow tube. The tobacco column portion of the cigarette is made up of four segments bracketed A, B, C and D, respectively. Each segment is individually wrapped in cigarette paper 12 and the segments arranged in a columnar series. The series of segments are held in position by an additional outer wrapping of cigarette paper 13, with the mouthpiece l l affixed thereto by tipping paper 14 in a conventional manner.

Each of the segments A, B, C and D is packed with a smoking charge 15. The smoking charge may constitute plain tobacco in tip segment D. However, the charge in the remaining segments is a blend of tobacco with a tobacco substitute such as carbon filled paper shredded to simulate the natural characteristics of the tobacco with which it is mixed. In accordance with the invention, those segments closest to the mouthpiece end of the cigarette contain a higher percentage of the tobacco substitute than those towards the opposite end. In other words, the percentage of carbon filled paper is different in each distinct segment along the length of the cigarette, varying from none or a low percentage of carbon paper with tobacco at the tip end of the cigarette to a relatively high percentage (30% 50%) at the mouth end of the cigarette. Thus, segment A contains more shredded carbon filled paper than segment B, which contains more than segment C. Segment D may be just plain tobacco or it may contain a relatively small percentage of carbon filled paper depending upon the results desired. The number and length of segments is not critical although it is preferable to have at least three with the one closest to the mouth end of the cigarette longer than the others, it being the portion of the cigarette normally consumed during the last puffs required to consume the entire tobacco column.

The tobacco substitute particularly preferred in the shredded carbon filled paper disclosed in copending application Ser. No. 395,643 filed Sept. 10, 1973, 1973. As disclosed therein, the carbon content of the shredded carbon filled paper may vary from 55% to 400% by weight based upon the weight of the cellulose fiber, depending upon the effect desired although preferred carbon contents range from 55% to 250%. The carbon filler may be of various types, either activated or unactivated and is typically 80 mesh or smaller. Examples of a carbon that may be used are finely pulverized wood carbons, mill waste carbons, coal and petroleum base carbons, bituminous coal and nut shell charcoal.

Inert powdered materials such as calcium carbonate may be used in conjunction with the carbon as additional filler in the paper. The carbon filled paper also may be treated with oxidation catalysts, such as alkali hydroxides, alkali bicarbonates and alkali carbonates, if it is desired to provide burning rate control.

In FIG. 2 another embodiment of the invention is shown comprising a cigarette generally designated 20, having a conventional cigarette paper wrapping 21 for the columnar smoking mass 22 and a mouthpiece 23 affixed thereto by tipping paper 24. The smoking mass 22 comprises a blend of tobacco and a tobacco substitute such as shredded carbon filled paper. The shredded carbon filled paper is disposed in the smoking mass,

such that a higher percentage is present towards the mouthpiece end of the cigarette, diminishing to little or none towards the tip end of the cigarette. Thus, in the drawings the area designated 25 contains a higher percentage of carbon filled paper whereas the area designated 26 contains little or no carbon filled paper.

Cigarettes made in accordance with this invention show a more consistent yield of tar and nicotine (measured as total particulate matter TPM) than do regular cigarettes when the cigarettes are smoked. Conceivably, any type of tobacco filler, treated tobacco or synthetic tobacco can be used with the shredded carbon filled paper and be made into a cigarette to give a constant TPM yield per puff.

EXAMPLE A number of composite cigarettes were fabricated from individually wrapped tobacco column segments each containing systematically varied amounts of shredded carbon filled paper. The carbon filled paper used comprised a sheet made up of 30% by weight cellulose fiber and 233% by weight, based on the the weight of the cellulose, activated wood carbon filler shredded to simulate natural tobacco. The total length of all cigarettes evaluated was 70 mm, each containing from 2 to 4 distinct segments varying in length from to 40 mm. Actual construction of the composite cigarettes involved the initial preparation of 70 mm cigarettes from various blends of tobacco and shredded carbon filled paper. These cigarettes were, in turn, cut into segments of various lengths, systematically rearranged in columnar series to yield a total of 70 mm and rolled in an outer wrap of conventional cigarette paper. Thereafter they were tipped with 20 mm hollow tubes Puff Number Tar Nicotine 1 .9 mg. .07 mg. 3 .9 mg. .06 mg. 5 .9 mg. .07 mg. 7 1.4 mg. .07 mg. 9 1 9 .07 mg.

. mg. Total yields for 10 pufis 14.41 mg. tar, .78 mg. nicotine For four segment cigarettes having a first 10 mm tip segment containing tobacco, a second 15 mm intermediate segment containing 10% by weight shredded carbon filled paper blended with tobacco, a third 20 mm intermediate segment with 25% by weight carbon paper and tobacco, and a final 25 mm butt end segment containing 45% shredded carbon filled paper blended with tobacco, the following average constituent yields per puff were obtained:

Puff Number Tar Nicotine l .9 mg. .04 mg. 3 .8 mg. .05 mg. 5 .9 mg. .05 mg. 7 1.2 mg. .07 mg. 9 2.3 mg. .08 mg.

Total yields for 10 puffs l 1.8 mg. tar, .56 mg. nicotine For those two segment cigarettes having a first 30 mm tip segment containing 15% by weight carbon filled paper and a second 40 mm butt segment containing 40% by weight carbon paper, the following yields per puff were obtained:

Puff Number Tar Nicotine 1 .1 mg. .05 mg. 3 .4 mg. .06 mg. 5 .6 mg. .07 mg. 7 .7 mg. .06 mg. 9 .6 mg. .06 mg.

Total yields per 10 puffs 6.41 mg. tar, .64 mg. nicotine Control cigarettes containing 100% tobacco and no shredded carbon filled paper, but otherwise identical to the segmented cigarettes, showed the following smoke constituent yields-measured on a puff by puff basis as the cigarette was smoked.

Puff Number Tar Nicotine 1 2.05 mg. 1.1 mg. 3 2.4 mg. 1.6 mg. 5 2.8 mg. 1.8 mg. 7 3.1 mg. 2.0 mg. 9 4.3 mg. 2.3 mg.

Total yields for 10 puffs 30.43 mg. tar, 1.83 mg. nicotine As is clearly evident from the foregoing smoking analyses, engineered cigarettes, made in accordance with this invention with progressively increased amounts of shredded carbon filled paper blended with the tobacco towards the butt end of the cigarette, show a significant leveling out in the tar and nicotine yields during the entire smoking of the cigarette when compared to the all tobacco control cigarettes. Moreover, a substantial reduction in the overall yields of tar and nicotine is also observed in the engineered cigarette.

While all of the samples tested employed shredded carbon filled paper blended with the tobacco, it will be evident to those skilled in the art that other tobacco substitutes can be used with tobacco and made up into cigarettes constructed such that progressively greater percentages of the tobacco substitute is present toward the butt end of the cigarette. Under such circumstances, a similar smoothing out of the smoke constituent yield would be expected. However, shredded carbon filled paper is particularly preferred because of the dramatic effect it achieves when cigarettes using it are constructed in accordance with this invention.

Although the present invention has been described in conjunction with the preferred embodiments, the examples and description are only illustrative of the invention and it is to be understood that many variations and modifications may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as those skilled in the art will readily understand.

What we claim is:

1. A cigarette comprising a series of at least three segments each constituting at least ten percent of the length of the cigarette, each segment containing a smoking charge individually Wrapped in cigarette paper with the segments arranged in a column held in place by an outer wrap of cigarette paper, said smoking charge in said segments near the mouthpiece end of the cigarette comprising different blends of tobacco and a tobacco substitute, said tobacco and tobacco substitute uniformly blended in each segment, all of said segments arranged so that those containing the highest percentage of tobacco substitute are disposed towards the mouthpiece end of the cigarette and those containing none or lesser percentages of tobacco substitute disposed towards the tip end of the cigarette, such that the concentration of tobacco substitute is greatest at the mouthpiece end and progressively decreases in concentration from segment to segment towards the tip end whereby, as the cigarette is consumed during smoking, the yield of the constituents in the smoke tends to be more level from tip end to mouthpiece end when compared with a conventional cigarette having a uniform smoking charge along its entire length.

2. A cigarette according to claim 1 in which the tobacco substitute is a shredded carbon filled paper made from cellulose fiber and finely pulverized carbon.

3. A cigarette according to claim 2 in which the carbon filled paper contains from 55% to 400% carbon by weight based on the weight of the cellulose fiber.

4. A cigarette according to claim 1 in which the segment closest to the mouthpiece end is longer than the other segments. 

1. A cigarette comprising a series of at least three segments each constituting at least ten percent of the length of the cigarette, each segment containing a smoking charge individually wrapped in cigarette paper with the segments arranged in a column held in place by an outer wrap of cigarette paper, said smoking charge in said segments near the mouthpiece end of the cigarette comprising different blends of tobacco and a tobacco substitute, said tobacco and tobacco substitute uniformly blended in each segment, all of said segments arranged so that those containing the highest percentage of tobacco substitute are disposed towards the mouthpiece end of the cigarette and those containing none or lesser percentages of tobacco substitute disposed towards the tip end of the cigarette, such that the concentration of tobacco substitute is greatest at the mouthpiece end and progressively decreases in concentration from segment to segment towards the tip end whereby, as the cigarette is consumed during smoking, the yield of the constituents in the smoke tends to be more level from tip end to mouthpiece end when compared with a conventional cigarette having a uniform smoking charge along its entire length.
 2. A cigarette according to claim 1 in which the tobacco substitute is a shredded carbon filled paper made from cellulose fiber and finely pulverized carbon.
 3. A cigarette according to claim 2 in which the carbon filled paper contains from 55% to 400% carbon by weight based on the weight of the cellulose fiber.
 4. A cigarette according to claim 1 in which the segment closest to the mouthpiece end is longer than the other segments. 